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France population

France: 68.7 million people in 2025 (68,720,337), 23rd of 217 countries and areas — and 69.7 million projected for 2050.

Population of France, 1960 to 2050: 47.4 million in 1960, peak 69.7 million in 2048, 69.7 million in 2050 (projection)
Population of France, 1960 to 2050: 47.4 million in 1960, peak 69.7 million in 2048, 69.7 million in 2050 (projection)
Population of France, 1960 to 2050: 47.4 million in 1960, peak 69.7 million in 2048, 69.7 million in 2050 (projection)

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Where it stands

In 2025 France has 68,720,337 people, which is 0.84% of the 8.19 billion counted across the 217 countries and areas on this site. That puts it 23rd by population, behind United Kingdom and ahead of South Africa.

Since 1960

In 1960 the figure was 47,412,964. Since then the population has grown 1.45×, an average of 0.57% a year upward. It has not yet doubled since then.

The projection puts the peak in 2048 at 69,687,096, after which it declines. By 2050 the projected total is 69,678,728, 1.4% above the 2025 figure.

The ranking in 2050

In 2050 the projected rank is 30th, down 7 places from 23rd. Rankings move when other countries grow faster or slower, not only when France changes.

People and land

France covers 538,950 km² of land, so 2025 density is 128 people per km² — 88th most crowded of 216 places with an area figure. At that density a square 10 km on a side holds about 12,751 people.

The fertility rate was 1.61 births per woman in 2024, below the roughly 2.1 needed to keep a population steady without migration; life expectancy at birth was 83 years (2024); 16.2% of people were under 15 and 22.5% were 65 or older (2025); 79% of the population lived in cities. These shape the curve above: a young population keeps growing after fertility falls, an old one starts shrinking sooner.

Its nearest neighbours in the ranking are United Kingdom just above, with 69.5 million (1.01× as many), and South Africa just below, with 64.7 million (1.06× as many as South Africa has).

How the numbers are taken. Total population from the World Bank's population estimates and projections (built from United Nations and national statistics). Values to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that continue current fertility, mortality and migration trends. Sources and limits.

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